Job summary
- Main area
- Volunteers
- Grade
- Volunteer
- Contract
- Voluntary
- Hours
- Flexible working
- Job ref
- 252-3906963-Volunteers
- Employer
- Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Darent Valley Hospital
- Town
- Dartford
- Salary
- This is a voluntary role and is therefore unpaid
- Closing
- 19/01/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Patient Voice Partner Volunteer
Volunteer
Job overview
Overview
There are a number of volunteering opportunities offered by Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust at both Darent Valley Hospital and Queen Mary’s Hospital, at Sidcup.
Volunteers help support the hospital in numerous different ways, assisting clinical staff on ward, meeting and greeting, as well as assisting office based staff with admin tasks.
Subject to satisfactory references, Criminal Records Bureau checks and Occupational Health clearance and an informal interview we will invite you to join our volunteers.
You will complete our training programme and then move onto specific placements at the Trust.
Main duties of the job
Patient Voice Partner (PVP) Volunteers
PVPs will represent and champion the voice of our patients by engaging in a range of networks, meetings and committees to support us in designing and delivering our services in a way that puts patients at the heart of everything that we do and optimising the experience of our patients.
PVP Volunteers will also support our audit and assessment processes, by sensitively conducting patient interviews to gain insights into their experiences of care which can be used to drive improvements.
Working for our organisation
We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you’ll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we’ve achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.
We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.
If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
What are the benefits of Volunteering?
- Meet new people
- Make Friends
- Learn new skills and build confidence
- A chance to give something back
- Working around your schedule to give as much or as little time as you wish
Person Specification
- Over the age of 17
- Available for a minimum of 3 hours per week
- Live within a 10 mile radius of the hospital
- Reliable. Hospital organisations plan around volunteers turning up and people in our Trust’s rely on the programs they deliver, so being reliable is a hugely valuable quality.
- Interpersonal skills. Going in to any new environment requires you to engage with new people. Volunteering often exposes you to people from all walks of life, so having great interpersonal skills that you can adapt to different situations means that you are sure to do a great job.
- Ability to learn and learn quickly. The first time you volunteer you need to learn and learn quickly what is expected of you. Volunteering is no different and is a great way to not only use but also practice building these skills.
- Problem Solving. your ability not only to problem solve your way through any challenges you face whilst doing the activity, but also to suggest new ways for that organisation to approach things, can extend your impact beyond the volunteer activity itself.
- Good written and verbal communication
- Ability to liaise at all levels in the organisation
- Work unsupervised
- Work within a team
- Flexible
Person specification
General
Essential criteria
- Problem Solving - your ability not only to problem solve your way through any challenges you face whilst doing the activity, but also to suggest new ways for that organisation to approach things, can extend your impact beyond the volunteer activity itself.
Personal Attributes
Essential criteria
- Over the age of 17
- Flexible and available for a minimum of 3 hours per week
- Honest, reliable and trustworthy
- Able to work as part of a team
- Respectful and understanding of the Trust’s core values
- Compassionate and empathetic
- Lives, goes to school/college or works within the Dartford, Gravesend, Swanley or Bexley area
Desirable criteria
- Able to liaise at all levels within the organisation
- Able to work unsupervised
- Recent lived experience of using DGT’s services as a patient, carer or relative.
- Able to read and analyse basic data
Knowledge and Skills
Essential criteria
- Good written and verbal skills
- Interpersonal skills
- Able to build trust and rapport quickly
- Able to adapt to different situations
- Understanding of the need for confidentiality
Desirable criteria
- Problem-solving ability
- Able to suggest ideas and new ways of working
- Attention to detail
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Charmain Wright
- Job title
- Head of Patient and Public Engagement
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01322 428851
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